I thought that this might be an interesting poll. I'd just like Orthodox people to respond to the poll please, though I suppose it would be interesting for others to make comments too. It would be great if you told us why you decided on the option you did, and what you second choice might be.

I chose Buddhist as my "other option". This would have to be in a situation where there was no such thing as Orthodoxy, or if I just didn't know about it. I know, I know, very hypothetical, or worse. I'm not sure if my real answer might have been Catholic or Atheist. But, I don't really have to choose, since this situation doesn't exist at all, right?

Okay, I goofed. I took out Buddhist by mistake. Hey mods, can I modify this poll and put it back in?

I voted Catholic. I grew up non-practicing Catholic and started going to church again when I got to college (the opposite of a lot of people, I know), so as other people posted, that's what I'd be if I hadn't found Orthodoxy.

i would be either a Jehovah's wittness or a morman,,to me they are the nicest people of faith to ever cross my path...as a kid i use to attend a kingdom hall ...also in Utah when my motor cycle broke down it was the mormans that helped....God Bless them Both...they left me good memories...stashko

If I didnt believe in the Lord Jesus I would form a religion similar to Islam. But I wouldnt fake any revelations like Mohammed did. The primary doctrine would be that God is one hypostasis and one prosopon. And there would be a strict monastic life.

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The great apostasy has occured. Get out of there while you can!!! Its better to be priestless than to have a heretic bishop. The apostles taught that the church consists of saints only. There are about 7,000 Spirit-bearers currently in the catacombs.

If I didnt believe in the Lord Jesus I would form a religion similar to Islam. But I wouldnt fake any revelations like Mohammed did. The primary doctrine would be that God is one hypostasis and one prosopon. And there would be a strict monastic life.

HAHAHA Pathofsolitude do you actually listen to yourself your post is pretty much the same to your position now and to quote out of context " Pathofsolitude hast abolished God and made himself in His stead". Do you understand how close you sound to the people that actually create there own religions! they say that they have some special gift (for you its the "holy spirit") and then blather on about how no religion is right and only you are? Is it just me or do you see the pattern!?

HAHAHA Pathofsolitude do you actually listen to yourself your post is pretty much the same to your position now and to quote out of context " Pathofsolitude hast abolished God and made himself in His stead". Do you understand how close you sound to the people that actually create there own religions! they say that they have some special gift (for you its the "holy spirit") and then blather on about how no religion is right and only you are? Is it just me or do you see the pattern!?

This is funny. I wonder if you would say the same thing to FRChris [see the first page I think] who jokingly said he would "create" his own religion. Even I didnt say I would "create" a religion. I just said I would form [by "form" I mean "organize" etc] a religion which would basically be based on obvious principles. I even added that I would "not fake any revelations like Mohammed did." Okay so much for your polemic.

« Last Edit: November 13, 2007, 09:26:53 AM by pathofsolitude »

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The great apostasy has occured. Get out of there while you can!!! Its better to be priestless than to have a heretic bishop. The apostles taught that the church consists of saints only. There are about 7,000 Spirit-bearers currently in the catacombs.

Ah, but Fr. Chris's point is that there is only one true religion, and that all others are really self-serving. The spirit of his post is much different than the spirit of yours is. Here's his post again for those who don't want to search for it.

All other faiths are illusionary and made by individuals anyway; I might as well be honest about it and grab all the credit!

See? This is a very Orthodox principle. Orthodoxy is the Way. All other faiths, well-intentioned though they may be, are man-made. For as much as you seem to be interested in the one right way to believe, you seem to have missed that. It's all around you, if you are Orthodox. Every Liturgy you pray shows you God's glory; every Confession you make brings you closer to Christlikeness. Instead of spurning "religion" and "society" and whatever else you think you don't like, take a look at true religion, true Christian koinonia. It's beautiful.

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"It is remarkable that what we call the world...in what professes to be true...will allow in one man no blemishes, and in another no virtue."--Charles Dickens

If not orthodox, I'd of course join the most liberal catholic church I could find. If not that, then Pastafarianism it shall be for me. All hail the Holy Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and curse those infadels of the Church of the Soaring Fettucini Creature!

If not orthodox, I'd of course join the most liberal catholic church I could find. If not that, then Pastafarianism it shall be for me. All hail the Holy Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and curse those infadels of the Church of the Soaring Fettucini Creature!

-nick

You heretic! I am of the Alfredo baptized denomination of the CSFC! I take that personally! (just wanted to use the police smiley face...no reason whatsoever)

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Vain existence can never exist, for "unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127)

If the faith is unchanged and rock solid, then the gates of Hades never prevailed in the end.

If we are to assume that Orthodoxy is the only True Religion and the Fullness of Faith, if the were no Orthodoxy, there would be no true representation of the divine on on Earth; would we not then be compeled to accept that there is no divine presence on earth and thus no divine? Atheism is the only logical faith under the assumptions of Orthodox Theology, were the same not to exist.

If we are to assume that Orthodoxy is the only True Religion and the Fullness of Faith, if the were no Orthodoxy, there would be no true representation of the divine on on Earth; would we not then be compeled to accept that there is no divine presence on earth and thus no divine? Atheism is the only logical faith under the assumptions of Orthodox Theology, were the same not to exist.

Interesting question. I wonder though, if we understand Orthodoxy (or whatever) to be the fullness of God's Revelation of God to the world, if the God does not reveal Himself, why should Atheism automatically be the only choice? All that we could logically conclude is that "no deity has revealed Itself to us".

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If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.

Interesting question. I wonder though, if we understand Orthodoxy (or whatever) to be the fullness of God's Revelation of God to the world, if the God does not reveal Himself, why should Atheism automatically be the only choice? All that we could logically conclude is that "no deity has revealed Itself to us".

That would probably be me, since I would have come to a certain thought process of what a true religion should entail, and yet it is not available. Nevertheless, I would say that as an agnostic, I would tend to lean towards atheism, since I would end up to fail finding this one true religion. As many would say it best, atheism is not necessarily believing in no god, but the lack of belief in one.

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Vain existence can never exist, for "unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127)

If the faith is unchanged and rock solid, then the gates of Hades never prevailed in the end.

Well personally I'd follow pathofsolitude in a religion, because if I was (not) Orthodox I think that he/she has a fairly good grasp of things. I mean he/she has the holy spirit and I can't argue with that. Sorry for the confusion Peter.

The great apostasy has occured. Get out of there while you can!!! Its better to be priestless than to have a heretic bishop. The apostles taught that the church consists of saints only. There are about 7,000 Spirit-bearers currently in the catacombs.

Well personally I'd follow pathofsolitude in a religion, because if I was (not) Orthodox I think that he/she has a fairly good grasp of things. I mean he/she has the holy spirit and I can't argue with that. Sorry for the confusion Peter.

I think it would be better to ask what we would be if we had not discovered Orthodoxy. For me this is like asking where I would be if Christ had not come. As such, I would probably have been a Sikh as I see Sikhism as having a great deal in common with Christianity and many similiarities between its founder and our Father Abraham.

That being said, I'm glad the Orthodox Church exists!

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...because I was not with you when the Lord came aforetime....because I am blind and yet I see.

The CSFC is just a bunch of people who didn't like Meatballs! You broke away from us, not us from you! Look at your history!

-nick

Nuh-uh! You can't catch meatballs, you make them. Shrimp Alfredo Fettucini is our backbone Pastafarian dogma. You catch shrimp. The CFSM is a Church that makes things up along the way, just as you made your own history.

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Vain existence can never exist, for "unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." (Psalm 127)

If the faith is unchanged and rock solid, then the gates of Hades never prevailed in the end.

I voted Catholic, (I like the Western Mass, and was elated to learn - only recently - that we have a Western Rite! what? there's no 'elated' smilie?) but sometimes I think the Sufis are much closer to Orthodoxy in their view of the world and mindset... accepting paradox as the core of faith and praxis, instead of a rulebook.

Or Zoroastrian, or Jewish - it's about as close as it gets in terms of worship.

Or agnostic, or atheist, or Gnostic, or Satanist - if there was no Orthodoxy as it is, I'd still be rebeling against God as I imagined Him to be before I really found out about Orthodoxy (and I'm a cradle Orthodox... sorta)

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And when He knew for certain Only drowning men could see Him He said "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them"

Nuh-uh! You can't catch meatballs, you make them. Shrimp Alfredo Fettucini is our backbone Pastafarian dogma. You catch shrimp. The CFSM is a Church that makes things up along the way, just as you made your own history.

Pardon me for saying so ... But the one true religion is Christianity. I can understand why someone might call one's sect or brand of Christianity a religion. However, it is (IMO) a misnomer. And it kinda gets my goat that other sects of the Christian faith are essentially placed on a level with utterly false and non-Christian religions. At least that is the way it appeared to me.

I mean, isn't being Protestant bad enough without being compared with the Christ-less?

Just poking fun at ya'll.

Anywho, if I had to choose from the list I would probably say...

Evangelical protestant. Go figure.

Okay, so now I'm gonna cast my vote and actually read the other replies.

« Last Edit: November 30, 2007, 03:51:09 AM by Cleopas »

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CleopasChristopher Hart

"Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees” -- John Wesley

Pardon me for saying so ... But the one true religion is Christianity. I can understand why someone might call one's sect or brand of Christianity a religion. However, it is (IMO) a misnomer. And it kinda gets my goat that other sects of the Christian faith are essentially placed on a level with utterly false and non-Christian religions. At least that is the way it appeared to me.

I mean, isn't being Protestant bad enough without being compared with the Christ-less?

Just poking fun at ya'll.

Anywho, if I had to choose from the list I would probably say...

Evangelical protestant. Go figure.

Okay, so now I'm gonna cast my vote and actually read the other replies.

Right. This is what I think also. It was surprising to me that people would choose atheism over a different Christian denomination.

I thought that this might be an interesting poll. I'd just like Orthodox people to respond to the poll please, though I suppose it would be interesting for others to make comments too. It would be great if you told us why you decided on the option you did, and what you second choice might be.

I chose Buddhist as my "other option". This would have to be in a situation where there was no such thing as Orthodoxy, or if I just didn't know about it. I know, I know, very hypothetical, or worse. I'm not sure if my real answer might have been Catholic or Atheist. But, I don't really have to choose, since this situation doesn't exist at all, right?

Okay, I goofed. I took out Buddhist by mistake. Hey mods, can I modify this poll and put it back in?

Of course then you would need to decide which type of Buddhist just like you have to choose which type of Christian.

Many Buddhists , especially in the West, follow a type of Buddhist Gnosticisnm. Other forms are deeply involved with occult type pracitces. Some see a Supreme Being and have made what Christens would see as some reasonable conclustions. Others meditate and have a very sober form of spirituality, other chant for health wealth and happiness and for more and better sex.

Religon is complicated.

MarcFormer Buddhist

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Your idea has been debunked 1000 times already.. Maybe 1001 will be the charm

Of course then you would need to decide which type of Buddhist just like you have to choose which type of Christian.

Many Buddhists , especially in the West, follow a type of Buddhist Gnosticisnm. Other forms are deeply involved with occult type pracitces. Some see a Supreme Being and have made what Christens would see as some reasonable conclustions. Others meditate and have a very sober form of spirituality, other chant for health wealth and happiness and for more and better sex.

Religon is complicated.

MarcFormer Buddhist

With so many Christian faiths to choose from why would anyone choose a less-than redemptive religion?

With so many Christian faiths to choose from why would anyone choose a less-than redemptive religion?

I would agree, but just for arguments sake, what if the "Christian" faith was based on frivolous idea's of wealth accumulation ( mostly the Pastors Wealth in reality) as compared to a really spiritually sober Zen Buddhism that restricts the passions and offers mercy to all sentient beings ? In other words, would a really conservative Buddhism be better than a really off kilter Christianity?

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Your idea has been debunked 1000 times already.. Maybe 1001 will be the charm

I would agree, but just for arguments sake, what if the "Christian" faith was based on frivolous idea's of wealth accumulation ( mostly the Pastors Wealth in reality) as compared to a really spiritually sober Zen Buddhism that restricts the passions and offers mercy to all sentient beings ? In other words, would a really conservative Buddhism be better than a really off kilter Christianity?

I saw an article which claimed that according to a particular non-Christian religion, one of the questions that will be asked of you at judgement time, will be how much money did you leave to your family. To some extent, I suppose that Christians will also be subject to a question like this concerning family responsibilites.